While many \u2064film productions grapple\u200d with\u200c the usual bevy of issues like COVID-19 protocols, union talks, and\u200c tight schedules, Karrie Crouse \u200band Will Joines’ \u2063journey was \u200cfraught with \u2064unique and wild obstacles. Their ambitious Dust Bowl-era horror film, “Hold Your\u2063 Breath,”<\/strong> saw the duo contend with rattlesnakes, lightning strikes, dust storms<\/strong>, and swarms of locusts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Crouse and\u200b Joines, who\u2063 co-directed the film, detailed the harrowing conditions they faced. Joines<\/strong> highlighted one particularly intense experience: “There was\u2062 one day where we had to stop shooting because \u200can actual dust \u2064storm shut our shoot \u2063down.\u200b Once the actual dust storm\u2064 stopped, we all\u2062 got back \u2063on location, cranked up\u2062 a huge 20-foot fan and shoveled\u2062 dust in it to make a fake dust storm.”<\/p>\n Despite the tumultuous filming, the premiere of “Hold Your\u200b Breath” at the Harmony\u2062 Gold Preview \u200bHouse<\/strong> in Los Angeles went\u200c off without a\u2063 hitch. The film’s star and executive producer, Sarah Paulson<\/strong>, walked\u2063 the red carpet \u200dalongside\u200b her\u2064 co-stars\u200d and the directing duo,\u2064 savoring a\u2063 rare moment of tranquility\u200c free from\u200b the perils of their shoot.<\/p>\n “Hold Your Breath” tells the \u2064gripping story of Margaret Bellum<\/strong>, played by Paulson, and her two daughters, portrayed\u2062 by Amiah Miller<\/strong> \u2062and Alona \u200cJane Robbins<\/strong>. They struggle to survive the harsh realities of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl<\/strong>. Margaret, plagued by\u200b visions \u200dof the \u2063 Grey Man<\/strong>, \u200ba spectral drifter\u200c who appears \u2064during \u200cviolent dust storms, battles to stay sane\u2062 as she waits\u200b for her husband to return from a \u2062distant job.<\/p>\n Paulson’s role extended far \u2062beyond that of \u2063lead actress. Described by the directors as “a champion for the film,” Paulson’s dedication was crucial to navigating the challenges of\u200b the shoot. \u200c Crouse<\/strong> and Joines<\/strong> praised \u2063her \u200dcommitment,\u200c recalling moments when she refused to back down despite\u200c physically demanding scenes. “There\u2063 were certain times when she was\u200c out\u2062 in front of this\u200d massive fan\u200b with all this dust in\u200c her face. And we thought, \u2018Surely she\u2019s gonna \u2064say no more.\u2019 She actually did the opposite,” \u2063Joines shared. “She said, \u2064\u2018I \u200bwant it\u2062 to look right. I want it to feel right. Give me more.'”<\/p>\n Crouse added,\u200b “She argued with the\u200b safety director like, \u2018It\u2019s my face. I\u2019m \u2064breathing\u2064 it in. Throw more dust at me!\u2019 It \u2063was amazing.”<\/p>\n Paulson also spoke highly of her co-stars, Miller and Robbins, who deliver \u2062breakout performances. Working closely with the young\u2063 actresses, \u200dPaulson felt honored to witness their burgeoning talent firsthand.\u200b “Amiah, it\u2019s not her first job\u2063 ever, but close to it. And this is Alona\u2019s first acting \u200cjob,” Paulson\u200d noted. “I\u200c feel \u200clike \u200dI\u2019ve been blessed in that way. I was in Elizabeth Olsen\u2019s \u2064first movie, Lupita Nyong\u2019o\u2019s first movie and now these beautiful girls who I\u2019m sure are \u2063going to run this town very quickly.\u200d I\u2019ll be begging\u2064 them both for \u2062jobs.”<\/p>\n “Hold Your Breath” excels not only in storytelling\u200d but also in its technical execution. The\u200b film\u2019s use of practical effects to recreate \u2063the relentless dust storms of\u2062 the Dust Bowl \u2064era is \u2063a testament to the dedication of \u200bthe production team. Using towering fans and truckloads of dust, the crew crafted convincing scenes\u2063 that\u200c immerse the \u200baudience in the era\u2019s harsh environment.<\/p>\n The visual narrative is complemented by meticulous \u2064 production design<\/strong>, which captures the bleakness and desperation of the Dust Bowl period. Every element, from the costumes to the set \u200bdecoration, was carefully chosen to\u200b reflect the historical accuracy and emotional tone of the\u2063 story.<\/p>\n Music plays a crucial role in “Hold \u200bYour Breath,”\u2064 enhancing the tension\u2062 and eerie atmosphere \u200dof the film. A haunting score accompanies Margaret\u2019s descent into madness,\u2064 with compositions \u2064that mirror the film\u2019s dark\u2063 themes. The soundtrack, featuring a blend of orchestral and atmospheric sounds, elevates the emotional impact and\u2062 keeps viewers on the \u200cedge of their seats.<\/p>\nLos Angeles premiere: A moment \u2062of \u2064calm<\/h2>\n
Plot breakdown:\u2063 Ghostly visions and survival<\/h2>\n
A champion on and off-screen<\/h2>\n
Rising stars: Miller and Robbins<\/h2>\n
Technical \u2063excellence: Visuals and production design<\/h2>\n
The soundtrack: Amplifying the\u2062 tension<\/h2>\n
Streaming now<\/h2>\n